The Portland daily press., 1887-05-11
BREAD ON THE WATERS.
A Union Soldiers Kindness Repaid
by a Fortune.
rspringdeld Union.1


Out of the many vicissitudes and happen
ings of the late war thrilling and romantic
tales have been woven. This romance in
real life. though unlike most of them in point
of fiction, in few weeks will have pleas
ant sequel. in which snug little portion Of
Scotchman's millions, $4,000 will be trans
ferred to Louis f. Granger, a well known
down town business man in New York city,
a colonel in the late war on the Union side
The Granger family in the sixties was one
of the most prominent In Boston. Louis Il.
Granger was quite young man then, but a
good fighter, and he soon rose. During the
bloody campaign in the Red River country,
Louisiana, he was made captain and acting
aide-de-camp on the staff of Gen. Dan Ull-
man. He was soon afterwards promoted to
assistant adiutant general of the division un-
der the same chief. While acting in that
capacity he made the acquaintance Of a
shrewd and wealthy Scotehman, Lemuel
Stockbridge, cotton speculator. Stock
bridge, who resided in Cincinnati, had few
months before started South to buy cotton.
Anticipating long stay he brought with
him his wife, whose health had been shat
tered by protracted illness. With his deli
cate partner he Travelled through several
Southern States, buying cotton at different
points, and when his business was nearly
concluded found himself in the heart of the
Red River section, confronted with unexpect-
ed difficulties in the shape of passing the
Federal lines and reaching New Orleans.
Just previous to his arrival orders were is
sued for the closing of the lines, on account
of the close proximity of the Confederate
forces. Both himself and wife were stran-
gers tocall. Her health was becoming rapid
ly worse. While engaged in his frantic ef-
forts to get away, he casually became ac-
quainted with Capt. Granger and his wife
who happened to be in the vicinity at the
time. Capt. Granger at once learned the
difficulty the Scotchman was involved in.
With his wife he administered to the relief
and comfort of Mrs. St0ckbridge. Granger
then prevailed upon Gen. Ullman TO consider
the embarrassing position Of the ScOtchman
and his wife, and in a short time obtained
permission for them to pass the lines.
1t was nearly six months later when Capt
Granger, having been promoted for gallant
service, obtained a leave of absence and
started for Cincinnati accompanied by his
wife. AT New Orleans he boarded a Mis-.
slssippi steamboat and to his surprise found
the Stockbridges among his fellow passen-
gers. At point in Louisiana as the vessel
was rounding bend in the river, it was fired
on by Confederates, and again Capt. Gran
ger rendered valuable service to the terror
stricken couple. Both he and his wife
administered to the sufferings of Mrs.
Stoekbridge. The boat arrived safely in
Cincinnati and the two families parted.
That was the last time Capt. Granger ever
saw the Scotchman and his sickly wife.
After the war came to close Granger, with
the rank of colonel, went South to live, and
in 1868 his wife died in New Orleans. Lem
uel Stockbridge, after accumulating for
tune Of S3,O00,0O0 went to Edinburgh, Scot
land, his native place, and died there In
| 1884, leaving large estate, which consisted
| principally of sugar and cotton plantations
| in the South. In his will the Scotchman re-
| called the timely services rendered him by
| Capt. Granger during the war, and directed
that the sum of $4,000 cash be paid to the
| captain and his wife as mark of his appre-
citation. If Changers wife was still alive,
| he adds in the will, the sum Of $4,000 should
| be paid to her. and in the event Of her being
| dead, the entire sum should revert to the
| gallant captain, and vice versa.
The attorneys Immediately after Lemuel
| Stockbridge's demise set about to discover
| the whereabouts of Granger. Advertise
ments were inserted in the New York, Chi
| cago and San Francisco papers asking for in.
| formation regarding the whereabouts OF
Captain Louis E. Granger. After year Of
| waiting they received no reply, and ascer-
tanning that Granger family resided in
Boston, wrote to them. The Boston Gran.
gers in turn communicated with Col. Gran
ger mother, who was ther living in Atchis-
on, Kan: She then wrote to her son in New
York city, the colonel in question, and ht
recalling to mind the family and incidents
| placed the matter in the hands Of his attor
neys., After many months or correspond
| ence between the respective lawyers in New
| York and in Scotland the identity of Col
| Granger has been fully established and in
few weeks the money will be paid over t
him. As his wife died in 1868 the whole
sum of $4,000 will, according to the bequest
| revert to him. Col. Granger is engaged IL
the mining and marble business in New
York city, and is a well known man abou
| town.